"Twenty-five years ago, we had our first contest with the idea that kids should learn what we learned when we were kids," said Bob Malowney, owner of the downtown shop Bird in Hand where the museum is located.

"Learning is much easier now because you learn yo-yos by watching somebody but now you can go watch somebody on YouTube."

The yo-yo has also been upgraded in style. What was once a game to pass time has become a performance art with contestants synching yo-yo tricks to upbeat techno music and some performing tricks from the ground, flinging yo-yos upwards.

The parents are no different than soccer moms, says Malowney. They buy new and improved equipment as it comes out and dedicate their time like any other sport.

"Yo-yo is popular to energetic kids that have good hand-eye coordination and discipline," Malowney said. "They all have to qualify for this contest. They have to play and do well in contests throughout the country to earn the right to come here, so these kids are not just playing around. These kids have succeeded already and then they come here to see who's the best of them and so it's kind of fun."

As people in the crowd visit vendors and become owners of their first yo-yo, many laugh as they drop to the ground and begin to look at other experienced yo-yo masters, having conversations while doing incredible tricks effortlessly.

"There are past national champions still competing so there's a lot of good players," said Malowney. "You can hear the audience cheer when these people get up because they know they're going to get a good show."